Sunday, August 22, 2010

stop over


Hindi mawawala sa byahe, lalo na yung malalayong paglalakbay. Para saan nga ba ang stop over?
Maka pagpahinga ang sasakyan.
Tugunan ang panawagan ng kalikasan.
Punan ang kumakalam na sikmura.
Ipikit ang inaantok na mata.
Ituwid ang mga paa.
Bumili ng pasalubong.
At kung ano pa man.


Dapithapon, nakaupo sa isang sulok ng McDonalds habang naghihintaysa inorder na cokefloat at fries, naitanong ko sa aking sarili ano nga ba ang stop over sa buhay ko?

Marami nang stop over ang napagdaanan ko.
Stop over para itanong sa sarili, nasa tamang landas ba ako?
Ito ba ang pangarap ko?
Masaya ba ako sa ginagawa ko?

Stop over para pakingggan ang saloobin ano nga ba ang makabubuti?
Alin ang nararapat piliin?
Ano ba ang tamang gawain?

Stop over para manahimik.
Balikan ang nakaraan, matuto ng mga aral sa karanasan.
Mag-alay ng pasasalamat.
Magplano ng kinabukasan.
Manatili, magdasal at magnilay.
Huminto at hayaan ang sariling umiyak sa pagkabigo.
Maging masaya at ipagdiwang ang munting tagumpay.
Mamahinga sandali upang magkaipon ng lakas.
Hay… ito marahil ang mga dahilan sa mga stop over ng buhay ko.
Ikaw ano ang kwentong stop-over mo?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

18.VII.2010y


Wohooow! another Wednesday!

I started my day early. Despite the cloudy sky at dawn,
I had a sweaty road run downtown.
I attended the morning Mass at the school chapel,
and proceeded to the café for a hearty breakfast shared with a friend
One of my favorite song tuned up the music for the day —swept away.

I went to the office with smiles and excitement for the day ahead.

The lines woven in the pdi article I read two Sundays ago keep on repeating inside my mind specially when I learned last night that a gentleman sent a reply to the letter, of which I look forward of reading the soonest possible time.
I had a soft copy of the “she letter”, got it from the pdi website but I what I want to read is the “he letter”. Too bad, I missed the newspaper last Sunday due to a volunteer work in the upland barangay. This letter-struck moments maybe encouraged by Ms. Honey’s tagged in the fb note or the conversation with Mr. Kua last night or maybe the idea floated during breakfast to discuss it in his class today.
True to his plan, Mr Kua brought me the “she letter” article cut out from the newspaper and requested me to write it in manila papers for his class. He showed me the “he letter” yet refused to let me read it.
As I began writing the “she letter” I found it uncomfortable to write in my own desk so I went to another office. I’ve written every word of the letter in three and one fourth pieces of manila paper in the solitude of pooh corner.
Little did I know that as I rewrite the letter it would stir something within me, creating new waves of swirls that I can’t explain yet brought some degree of excitement within that I can’t name.

Waaaah.

The stirrings inspired to write my own version of the "she letter".

Dearest You,

I admit that unlike many, I did not spent many hours searching, asking and dreaming about who you are, what do you do and where you are? Not that I do not like the idea of you but maybe because my priorities do not include the subject of you. I admit for many years I never gave much attention if you really exist or the possibility of your presence in my life.

Inspired by the two love letters I read, allow me to write this article. Pardon me for I will not be able to write assurances as to how I will love you the way she did but let me share something about myself. Hopefully, this will be relevant information that you might find reasonable to consider if the chance of weaving the story of us become possible or probable. Just in case, as need arises.

I am a positive person, care free, candid and spontaneous. Changes and surprises give me excitement. I have the streak of being an OC. I choose carefully my battles and weave carefully my strategic plans. I discern my choices, options and opportunities. There are also times that I have negative feelings about myself, settle for mediocrity and indifferent to changes. Sometimes, I am impatient, impulsive and stubborn.Sometime in the future maybe, you and I will be better than who we are now. Hopefully by that time, our differences will highlight opportunities of compromise that even in our lights and shadows we can create beautiful fusion.

All my life I’ve been raised in a protective love shield by my family of which I am deeply grateful. I do not have MMK episodes in my life story, yet I know the realities of life’s drama. There had been few selected moments that put my strengths into test but then I believe that there is courage in me that makes me strong to transcend during era of difficulties. Brokenness, rejection and loneliness seldom occur in my life yet I trust myself not to crumble in testing times. There are days that I soaked in tears, I curled in solitude, I doubt and I fail; but then I hold on to hope that all shall pass by and I can make it.When our time comes, I hope that we will be both emotionally mature to be real to our emotions, we may have vulnerabilities and shortcomings but I pray that we bring out always the best in each other.

I am blessed to have known many good friends through the years and I nurture clusters of genuine friendship. I treasure friendship built on trust and openness. I am not specifically attached to them but I value genuine connections of lives and hearts. I had given my heart totally to love once, experienced the pain of letting go and survived the struggle of moving on. I beleive, I am whole again. I turned down two opportunities to love again because of fear, personality differences and non-negotiable terms. Now, I believe that I learned from all of them. I don’t have regrets, indeed all is grace. You may not be my first love and I'm not yours, but may we be able to love another enough to make it lasts. May our hearts share the same vision and may we become the best partners in life.

I am fond of early road runs, long walks, mass every day, happy meals, tea or coffee stories and bucket list. I love to smile always. I laugh out loud and real. I have passion for light conversations, deep communications, signals and methaphoric story lines, interesting ideas, serious dialogues, strong principles, realistic convictions and heart talks. I like, air gaps, silent tranquil moments and solitary moon visits. I’m into feel-good movies, I giggle over cheesy lines, I swoon over love stories, my heart beats up during thriller films and I do not watch horror ones. My interests include reading books, psp, soccer (basketball too) and gardening (cooking?). I sing off tune but I can draw. I cannot play hula hoop yet I'm good in skipping rope. I love adventure travels and road trips. I do write, articulate my thoughts, name my emotions and listen to the stirrings within. I am responsible for my actions and committed to my passion. I am stubborn, persistent, playful, corny, sassy, eccentric and weird. I like sunshine, the moon makes my heart jump and I see myself as one of the bright stars. I am proud that I am scarred and truly beautiful. I celebrate life the way I know how and you live yours. When the probability opens that we can share a life together may we be supportive of each other and may we inspire one another. May we protect each other's interest and together, may we continue to aspire for the best.

I deeply love God. I embrace His Will, though at times with resistance and reluctance. I also love Mary, Joseph and the Saints. My life is a cycle of death and rebirth, a continuous purification. I am not perfect and will never be, but I fully embrace my fate to become the best that I can be. I commit myself to live out my essence and purpose as a person. I have great dreams and I pray to achieve all of them.

If this voyage of life leads me to you, I will be happy, by then, I will look at the moon and he will smile at me. I’ll bow my head in thanksgiving to the Maker. I will trust you my heart and will allow you to hold my hand and we will walk side by side to the path of love.

for all that will be,
I remain to be,
Me

[inspired by the column Roots and Wings, PDI, August 8 and 15, 2010. thank you Mr. Kua for the "he letter" and more for asking me to rewrite the "she letter". toinks!]

Monday, August 16, 2010

ballgame


ano ang mas mainam
ang kasama ka na pilit tinatago ang pakiramdam
o malayo ka na ‘di mawaglit sa isipan?


ano ang mas madali para sa tulirong puso
mang-iwan para malimot ng lubusan
o maghintay na ikaw ay iwanan?


ano ang mas mabuting gawin
sabihin lahat na nasa damdamin
o kung makagugulo lamang patuloy na ilihim?


Tatlumpong araw na akong nagtatanong
hanggang ngayon,
bola ano ka nga ba?

Mag isip.
Makiramdam.
Magnilay.
Magdasal.
Magmasid.

Hayaan lang.
Huwag pigilan.

Yakapin ng buo ang pakiramdam.
Pakinggan ang tibok ng puso.
Tulutang dumaloy ang luha.
Ibigay ang sarili sa bawat ngiti.
Patuloy na magtanong.
Maghangad ng kasagutan.
Magdasal, magdasal at magdasal.


Panghawakan ang katotohanan
ang lahat lilipas lang
darating ang araw
lahat ay maiintindihan.

sige lang, sige lang
tuloy ang laban

ang bola ay buwan
ang buwan ay bola.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Moon story three


May mga gabi na wala ang buwan. Kapag tumingala sa langit tanging mga tala lamang ang naaaninag sa karimlan. Nakakalungkot may kulang.

Nasaan kaya ang buwan?
Sa kanyang pag-iisa ano kaya ang kanyang pakiramdam?
Panatag kaya siya na walang kasama?
Sa pagkabalisa nagnanais din kaya siya na may makausap?
O baka may pumapatak na luha sa kanyang bawat pagkurap
?

subalit pwede namang

Masaya siya na mag-isang nagmumuni-muni?
Niyayakap niya ang makahulugang sandali na maupo sa isang tabi at pagmasdan ang mga pangyayari?
Maaari naman na may ngiting gumuguhit sa kanyang labi tuwing naaalala ang mga masasayang gunita?
O sa katahimikan malayang tumitibok ang kanyang puso at nararamdaman ang kalayaan sa bawat paghinga?


Alam ko ang ganitong pakiramdam.
Ang lungkot at saya sa pag-iisa.
Ang paghahangad at kapanatagan habang nasa isang tabi.
Ang luha at ngiti habang nagtatago.

Ramdam ko ang ganitong damdamin sapagkat sa mga oras na gusto ong mapag-isa, manatili sa isang tabi, magtago…

Ang pinaka medaling paraan ay magsabi na
Ako ay nasa buwan



[august’s moonless nights. in silence. embracing the solitude. waiting]

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

tcb*

The door is open come in.
You are welcome, feel at home.
Find your place in the couch.
Take a seat in your favorite spot.

Lean on. Sit back.
Deeply breath. Relax.

Order taken.
Wait.
Here it is.
Smile. Smile back.
Touch. It’s hot.
Inhale. Rare aroma.
Sip. Beautiful heaven.

Let the pleasant conversation flow.
Allow the relaxing dynamics to carry you through.
Speak up your mind.
Feel the emotions.
Act spontaneously.
Share conviction. Resonate with appreciation.
Sense the heartbeats. Listen to the stirrings within.
Be candid. Be sassy.
Be real. Be free.
Here, you are who you are,
deeply loved with your strengths and scars.
This is your place.
This is you.

Touch. Inhale. Sip.
Feed you mind with wisdom.
Let your heart feel what is real.
Allow your spirit to embrace and celebrate the magnificent gift of life.
over
a cup of hot green tea with calamansi, sago and gulaman
flavored with mint/lemongrass/honey/.


Touch. Inhale. Sip.
This is life. Live it. Love it.

summer*


Summer is one of my favorite time of the year and my favored season next to Christmas. In my life, summer means vibrant colors, happy adventures and special people.

I had many colorful and exciting april-may stories. The best is about Summer.

Remembering Summer.

We met in an eden at the middle of the metro where
chirping birds and noisy crickets are odd music to the ears,
tall grasses and big trees are uncommon sights
moonlight and starry sky are rare scenes.

Summer captured my attention at first smile. The meeting was unplanned. Circumstances were both a surprise and a discovery, both unfolded beautifully. For one heart was asking fate many questions and another soul was searching for directions.

Indeed it was rare, free fall, innocent love.

We made beautiful music under the heat of the blazing sun. We walked countless times along with vibrant summer blooms. In the serenity of our eden, we shared our life stories-- the struggles of winning, the pain of losses, tireless searching, the joy in finding. And while enjoying the harvests of the season, two hearts discovered the magic , the bliss of falling in love.

After many years, the memories of summer linger not anymore with pains of separation, no more struggles of letting go and empty of difficulties of moving on. These days, I remember Summer with his gentle heart who taught me to love genuinely to the point of setting free.

Friday, August 6, 2010

which one is better?


i read this from somewhere.
copied and read it again.
somehow it makes sense.


there is a difference between goodbye and letting go
GOODBYE is
I'll see you again when I'm ready to hold your hand and you're ready to hold mine
LETTING GO is
I'll miss your hand but I realized it's not mine to hold and will never hold it again.

i asked myself:
in what situations goodbye is the option?
in what circumstances letting go is the solution?

for a
confuse mind
broken heart
withered spirit
rejected soul

will there ever be a better option between goodbye and letting go
when hope is an enemy and the closest ally?

Thursday, August 5, 2010

kwento ng gitna


PAGHAHANGAD
I am a leaf and you are my tree
speak up and talk to me.
Hold my hand and make me stay
do not allow the wind to take me away.


PAGPAPALAYA
I pray that you will be able to know the genuine
and right path to fully live your life.
No matter how difficult it will be,
your happiness is more than enough for me.

ang mahalaga ay kung paano nilubos ang paghahangad,
ang importante ay gaano naging bukas sa pagpapalaya
at paano ibinigay ang sarili sa pagyakap sa KWENTO NG GITNA.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Moon story two


Natapos na naman ang isang araw ng paglalakbay. Maayos namang naitawid ang maghapon. Sa pagsapit ng isang takipsilim ‘di ko alam ko saan ang daang pupuntahan.

Ano kaya ang bukas?
Paano kaya ang gabi lilipas?


Dumating si Gabriel at nagtanong kung gusto ko kumain? Malamang gutom na ako kaya naman emo. Nakasalubong namin ang maraming kakilala at napadaan sa maraming kwentuhan. Tumigil kami at naghintay sa mga kaibigang makakasama sa hapag kainan. Ang tagal naman kumakalam na ang aking sikmura.

Sa katahimikan…
Ngumiti sa akin ang buwan.

Masayahin akong tao at hindi mahal ang aking ngiti. Ito ay napakamura na halos ipamahagi ko na sa lahat. Siguro ang isa sa pinakamaganda kong ngiti ay naibigay ko sa buwan ngayon. Lubos akong nabighani sa ganda nya okey lang malipasan ng gutom dahil halos makalimutan ko na ang hapunan sa ganda ng tanawing aking nasilayan.

Nag sms ako kay Great Poet na nasa kanluran ng Pilipinas. Natawa ako ng tinanong nya ako kung ano ang buwan ngayon sa akin. Marahil kilala nya ako na ang simpleng ngiti ko ay talagang may pinaghuhugutang malamim na dahilan at siguro duda na rin sya sino ba talaga ang buwan.

Sobrang ganda ng buwan ,lubos niya akong napapasaya .
Pero dahil sya ang buwan ‘di pwedeng angkinin at hawakan
kaya lulubusin ko na lang na siya ay tingnan.
Siguro may mga pagkakataon na ganyan
kahit gaano man na sya gustuhin hanggang tanaw kolang.


Natawa rin ako sa reply niya sa akin ganoon din daw ang buwan sa akin.

Sa bukang liwayway na lang ako magtatanong kung paano ang bukas. Masaya ang gabi at ito na siguro ang paraan kung paano ang dilim lilipas.

Muli akong nabighani sa ganda ng buwan. Kakaiba talaga sya tila ba sa sulyap lang nya ang puso ay dinuduyan sa tuwa.

Napasulyap ako kay Gabriel at ngumiti sya sa akin. Sabi nya masaya talaga ngayon ang buwan. Ang sagot ko, oo alam ko, kasi yun din ang sabi ng aking puso. Malakas na halakhak ang sagot nya sa akin, pero alam ko sya ay kumbinsido.

Muli, ngumiti sa akin ang buwan.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

bola



...

ang hirap lagyan ng kataga ang pakiramdam
‘di madali maghabi ng katha upang mailarawan
ang kwento ng puso.

ang buwan ay bola
ang bola ay buwan.

...


[salamat sa anghel na dumating upang ako ay pakinggan kahit aksidente ang pagkatanggap ng panawagan]